Power Chords
Just two notes, one simple shape, and it's the backbone of rock rhythm guitar. Meet the power chord.
Root + 5th, nothing else
A regular major or minor chord has three core notes: the root, the 3rd, and the 5th. A power chord drops the 3rd entirely, leaving just the root and the 5th (often with the root doubled an octave up for fullness). Because the 3rd is what makes a chord major or minor, a power chord is technically neither — it's written with a "5", like E5 or A5.
One movable shape
Power chords are usually played on the low E and A strings using just two fingers (index on the root, ring on the 5th two frets up and one string over). Because there's no open string or nut involved, the exact same shape slides anywhere on the neck — move it up two frets and the chord's root moves up a whole step with it.
Common questions
What is a power chord?
A two- or three-note shape of a root and its 5th, sometimes with the root doubled an octave up. It has no 3rd, so it's technically neither major nor minor.
Why are power chords called "5" chords?
Written like C5 or G5 because the chord is just the root and 5th scale degree, with no 3rd included.
Are power chords movable?
Yes — like barre chords, the shape stays the same and slides up or down the neck to change its root note.
Why do power chords sound so good with distortion?
Distortion adds overtones that can clash with a 3rd and sound muddy; a power chord's simple root-and-5th interval stays clean and heavy even at high gain.
Play power-chord riffs on a live fretboard
Melody Monkey shows power chords sliding up and down the neck so you can see exactly how the shape stays the same.
Open the chord & scale library →See it in a real song
Still stuck? Ask Your Personal Music Teacher about Power Chords →